ANDOVER shops will be allowed to stay open until 10pm under new plans to boost the economy if lockdown lifts further this month.

Non-essential shops are on course to reopen on Monday, April 12 - the first time since December.

And thanks to a change in government policy, stores will be able to open from 7am to 10pm for six days a week - good news for shoppers who have missed hitting the high street.

A network representing businesses in the town has hailed the decision as a “lifeline that will be heartily welcomed”, but warned that this measure alone will not be enough to tackle problems incurred by a year of tight restrictions.

Also in this week’s paper:

- Andover Town Council objects to controversial Picket Twenty flat plans

- Councillors vote in favour of plans to attempt to “salvage” a design statement after spending over £10,000 on it

- Rogue trader jailed scamming an Andover resident out of thousands of pounds 

- Soldier runs four marathons in the space of a weekend to help raise village funds

- Devoted gran, 76, ‘accidentally fell’

- Smannell pub warns followers to be wary of a fake ‘scammer’ account

- Augusta Park grandmother speaks out after thieves who stole a parcel of toys for her two-year-old grandson

- Story behind 19 High Street

- Two pages of YOUR letters

- And much, much more

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